Asia

2003-09-22

ASIA/IRAQ - IRAQI CHRISTIAN HOLD FIRST CONVENTION

Arbil (Fides Service) - Iraqi Chaldean Christians are holding a Meeting, the first in post-war Iraq. The five day meeting, taking place in Kosinjak near Arbil in the region of Iraqi Kurdistan, is attended by Christians from all over Iraq as well as representatives of Catholic communities in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon.
The Convention is organised by the Catholic community in Egypt, the largest in the Middle East region. Kosinjak was chosen because it is in a relatively quiet area. Also present at the Meeting representatives of the Kurd autonomous zone government. The Meeting will discuss, among other things, ways to promote peace and harmonious co-existence among all Iraqis who belong to many different ethnic groups and religion, Christians, Muslims, Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Armenians. The participants have condemned the Saddam Hussein regime for oppressing the people.
The Chaldean Archbishop of Arbil gave a talk on Christian/Muslim relations and he thanked Muslim Kurds for peaceful co-existence during the hard times of the UN sanctions and the war. (BM) (Fides Service 22/9/2003 EM lines 18 Words: 192)